AVR-1906 & KEF 2005.2 or DHT-500SD ?

[NobodyHome]

Hi,

I'm looking to get a get a reasonable starter surround setup with music also important. After looking around, I find myself torn between a Denon AVR-1906 with KEF 2005.2 package or a Denon DHT-500SD system.

I was also looking at the Yamaha V657, which probably has the edge over the AVR-1906 for film, but it doesn't appear to be great for music. Both Denon's are well rated for film & music (and price ), but it's impossible to compare in person because the DHT would need to be web purchase.

Any advice you can offer that may help me decide, will be greatly appreciated

PS. Here's my reason for shortlisting these, if it helps:

• Budget of up to £750 approx
• Looking for something good enough for both film & music
• I like the sound of Denon's for music (had a PMA-250 II Amp).
• DHT-500SD looks like the only all-in-one system worth considering for both film & music

Thanks in advance

[Kanksbloke]

Go for the Denon and the Kefs. Apart from anything else upgrading later will be easier. Just don't forget you will need a decent DVD player as well, or even better a seperate CD player and DVD player.

[NobodyHome]

Got a Toshiba DS330E and a Denon CD player ready to go . Other than an upgrade path, is it worth the extra £350?

[barijohn]

Hi,

I have both the 500-SD and a 1906 with MS Speakers.

The 1906 is a much better system than the 500. You get more connections, Component Video switching. Many more Digital Sound inputs. Inputs to play SACD etc. Sound quality is much better but that will also be due to the speakers. The Kef's will be a significant improvement on the 500's.

Do I have to go on? My 500-SD is in the living room and 1906 is down in the Cinema room in cellar.

HTH

Bari.

[Kanksbloke]

Got to agree with Barijohn, I've a Denon 1804 amp and 1400 dvd player with AE speakers. Compared to my parents Sony one box system... well there is no comparison. With the sony the sound is stuck in the corners, with my system the sound just wraps you up and draws you into the film.

Sounds daft but true.

Take the plunge, you know you want to, wont regret it!

[NobodyHome]

Thanks guys. I think you've convinced me to skip the DHT and spend the the extra cash .

barijohn, have you heard the Kefs? I'm a little tempted to consider MSs, as I have had MS-10's on a Denon PMA-250 amp for years and like them for music, but the Kefs looked like a good well respected option (especially at £750 including 1906 and cables from creative-audio.co.uk).

PS. Does your 1906 give you any problems with PLII on Sky etc? I've read a number of posts regarding background noise using this mode on 1906's. Seems to be mostly people with 1906's reporting this.

[barijohn]

Not sure on the Kef's as I haven't heard them. I had MS rears and centre so I went with the MS906i's which I really like. Since upgraded the centre to the matching one and moved the old one to the 6.1 rear.

I haven't noticed any sound interference on the Sky+ box but perhaps I'm one of the lucky ones. (It's be a first!)

Cheers.

[NobodyHome]

Thanks. Also trying to decide if the 1907 is worth the extra £50

[mh66639]

Hi,

Not sure if this will help at all, but I tested the 1907 today with the Kef 2005.2 set and found the music to be in need of some kind of separation such as needing a tweeter. I didn't change any settings, so maybe it just needs the treble moving higher, but you should probably demo/test this yourself.

HTHs,
Matt.

[NobodyHome]

Having trouble locating a 1907+2005.2 set to test.

Tried 2005.2's on a Sony STR-DG700 today. Sounded pretty good but seemed to have a slight lack of punch on the bass. Is this a sub setup issue or should I expect the sub not to be particularly punchy?

The STR-DG700 amp seems very cheap at <£200 considering it's got the same 85w output as the Denon but with HDMI switching. Is it in the same league as the 1907?

The funniest thing was that the Sony amp and KEFs I tested were in an official Panasonic shop. Everything in the shop was Panasonic apart from these two items, which were also for sale. I guess they decided the best to sell their plasmas and dvd players etc was with a quality sound system not made by them